# Instagram Story Download API (https://www.socialcrawl.dev/platforms/instagram/story-download)

> Returns the downloadable media for one specific story — the full-resolution image or video URLs and the story's metadata. Pass the `user_id` of the story's author and the `story_id` of the individual story (get story ids from the Instagram stories endpoint).

TL;DR: `GET /v1/instagram/story/download` costs 5 credits per call and returns SocialCrawl's unified JSON schema. Single x-api-key auth, 100 free credits on signup.

## Parameters

| Parameter | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `user_id` | no | Instagram numeric user ID of the story's author. |
| `story_id` | no | ID of the individual story to download. |
| `safe_url` | no | When true, returns URL-safe media links suitable for embedding. |

## Code example

```bash
curl "https://www.socialcrawl.dev/v1/instagram/story/download" \
  -H "x-api-key: sc_YOUR_API_KEY"
```

## FAQ

### How do I download a specific Instagram story with an API?

Send a GET request to /v1/instagram/story/download with the story author's user_id and the individual story_id. SocialCrawl returns the full-resolution image or video URL for that one story plus its metadata.

### Where do I get the story_id to pass in?

Call the stories endpoint first (/v1/instagram/stories) to list the active stories in a user's tray. Each item includes its story_id, which you then pass here to download that specific story.

### Does the story download API return images and videos?

Yes. The response carries the full-resolution media URL whether the story is a photo or a video, along with the story metadata such as capture time and author, so you can save the original file.

### How much does one story download cost?

Each download costs 5 credits on the advanced tier. New accounts get 100 free credits with no credit card, so you can pull story media right away before deciding to top up.

### Can I get a CDN-safe URL for the downloaded story?

Yes. Add the optional safe_url parameter and SocialCrawl returns a proxied, CDN-safe media URL that is more reliable to fetch and store than the raw Instagram link.

See the full Instagram API: https://www.socialcrawl.dev/platforms/instagram

## Pricing

- Standard endpoints: 1 credit per call
- Advanced endpoints: 5 credits per call
- Premium endpoints: 10 credits per call
- 100 free credits on signup, no credit card required. Cached responses cost 0 credits. Credit packs never expire.
- Full pricing: https://www.socialcrawl.dev/pricing

## Explore with AI

Questions this API answers, phrased for an AI assistant:

- How to download an Instagram story by story ID with an API
- Best API to save full-resolution Instagram story videos